Mark 11:15–18 | On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
DAILY PRAYER REQUEST: Lord, may we know you more clearly, love you more deeply and follow you more closely.
DAILY THOUGHT: RIGHTING WRONGS WITH CHRIST (MARK 11:15–18)
The Jesus we meet in the Gospels is not always gentle, accepting and self-effacing. Sometimes he got really angry, especially when confronted with evil. One such moment was when injustice was taking place in the temple courts. You can read of how he took a whip, upset the tables and drove out the moneychangers in today’s Gospel reading. The idea that we should be quiet and passive in the face of evil is not the way of Christ. Of course, we cannot take on all the evil around us. But we can look around our communities and places of work and ask God to guide us and to show us where to take action.
DAILY PRACTICE:
Pray the daily prayer request. Read slowly Mark 11:15–18. What strikes you most about Jesus in this encounter? How do you respond to him here? What would it mean for you to resemble your Master where you live and work? Think about one area of evil that concerns you very much. It may be a personal vice that concerns you greatly, a corrupt situation at work, an injustice in the community that demands action. Talk with the Lord about it and ask him to show you how you can offer a faithful gospel response.